B is for baladi, ballady...

Baladi is a folkloric style of Middle Eastern dance (whichever way the author chooses to spell it!)

B is for Belisha Dance Club

Belisha is a gathering of belly dancers who enjoy developing & extending their personal dance & knowledge.  Mostly based in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, the Club has members as far afield as the UK & Australia.  Go to www.belishabellydance.org.nz for more info about Belisha.

B is for Belly flutters

Stick out your tongue & pant like a dog... now you have identified which muscles to use for a belly flutter, learn to do the flutter with a relaxed smile instead of the tongue hanging out!  Time the rhythm to your chosen music.

Contributor: Abijii

B is for Bouncy walk

Bouncy walk  - is a light & joyous travelling step.  Start stationary, bounce using your feet and then bounce using your knees and bounce using your hips.  When you can do this & feel the difference, you are ready to travel.

Keep the bounce in the balls of your feet, & walk in a large circle.  Stop travelling to check the bounce is still foot generated and not in your knees – which is bad for your joints.

Walking & bouncing in your shoulders is a different movement!

Once you have 'captured' this movement it can be included in a variety of layerings and sequences.

Contributor: Anoushka

B is for breasts and bras

Yes, breasts ... and  because a badly fitted 'costume' bra could adversely affect your belly dance, bras.  It is estimated that over 80% of women wear the wrong size bra! Check out the bra fitting details at Bravissimo - http://www.bravissimo.co and get a new one.

 If buying a ready-made costume, the fit of the bra is crucial (many appear to be made by dressmakers who have never seen a woman).  Whatever your shape/size - enhancing your assets, don't alarm your audience.

Apparently some women can do a one-leg shimmy which makes the opposite breast twirl outwards. (Thank you, anonymous)

B is for Barrel roll

Usually done with a prop in hand; cane, veil, Isis wings or sword. Turn a circle repeatedly; keep 'spotting' towards the audience - as you keep turning, the arm at back goes up and the arm at fron goes down, giving the appearance of arms circling around the dancer's head.